Meryl Streep and Kevin Kline will perform together in The Lover and the Poet, an evening of William Shakespeare to benefit The Acting Company, to take place at 7pm on Monday, November 2 at Florence Gould Hall. Streep and Kline last appeared together on stage in the Public Theater’s Mother Courage and Her Children and will recreate those role for the Public’s Courage in Concert benefit on October 19. The pair also starred opposite each other in the Public’s production of The Seagull and in the film Sophie’s Choice, for which Streep won the Academy Award.

The Public Theater, Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori will produce “Courage in Concert”, a one-night-only benefit concert reuniting Kevin Kline, Jenifer Lewis, Austin Pendleton, Meryl Streep and Frederick Weller for an evening of songs from the Public Theater’s 2006 Shakespeare in the Park production of Brecht’s masterpiece, Mother Courage and Her Children. Translated by Tony Kushner with music by Jeanine Tesori and originally directed by George C. Wolfe, “Courage in Concert” will be performed at the Public Theater on Monday, October 19 at 8:00 PM with all proceeds benefiting American Jewish World Service and Partners In Health. The cast of HAIR along with special guests will complete the evening. Tickets go on sale on Thursday, September 17.

I am delighted to reunite with my friends from Mother Courage to benefit two extraordinary organizations … Both American Jewish World Service and Partners In Heath are deeply inspiring in their profound efforts to alleviate poverty and disease around the world.
Meryl Streep

 
“When you work on or watch or read the plays of Bertolt Brecht you’re compelled to ask yourself questions about the relationship between art and the troubled world outside. These questions are complicated, have no easy answers,” said Tony Kushner. “Three summers ago, we presented Mother Courage and Her Children directed by George C. Wolfe and I think I can speak for everyone involved that the experience was thrilling, moving, and left many of us wanting to extend our encounter with this immense play and its provocations. Jeanine Tesori, Meryl Streep and I have been discussing putting together a concert version of the score as a benefit. Together we chose two groups whose work we admire enormously: American Jewish World Services and Partners In Health. Both AJWS and PIH insistently call attention not only to the needs of the poor but to the underlying causes of their poverty. The connection they forge between understanding and action is the connection at the heart of Brecht’s play.”

A new theatrical trailer for “It’s Complicated” has been released, featuring lots of new scenes from the film. The trailer can be watched in the video archive, with captures from the additional scenes being added to the Image Library. Thanks to everybody for the heads-up!

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has announced Julie & Julia starring Meryl Streep as Julia Child and Amy Adams as Julie Powell is coming to Blu-ray Disc and DVD on December 8. Blu-ray will be the best version to own of this summer hit and not just for the 1080p picture and lossless audio. Sony is taking advantage of Blu-ray’s extra space and BD-Live to deliver the majority of bonus features as Blu-ray exclusive.  The complete list of bonus features are as follows:

Commentary with writer/director Nora Ephron
Secret Ingredients: Creating Julie & Julia – Go behind the scenes with Meryl Streep & Amy Adams

Family & Friends Remember Julia Child (BD exclusive)
Julia’s Kitchen – Learn all about how the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History acquired Julia’s kitchen and take a tour inside. (BD exclusive)
Cooking Lessons: (BD exclusive)
Poaching Eggs with Julia Child & Jacques Pépin
Making Hollandaise Sauce with Julia Child & Jacques Pépin
Mark Peel Prepares Scrambled Eggs
Suzanne Goin Prepares Braised Beef Shortribs
Steven Lewandowski & Drew Nieporent Prepare Butter Poached Maine Lobster
movieIQ – Julia’s Recipe Collector – collect and email your favorite Julia Child recipes while watching the film! (BD exclusive)

 
Julie & Julia on Blu-ray has a retail price of $39.95. Pre-order information and cover art are expected to be released in the days ahead.

Many thanks to Ilaria for contributing scans from the latest Ciak issue, an Italian magazine with a spotlight on Meryl’s upcoming appearance at the International Rome Film Festival. Thanks a lot!

Lots of new scans from 2009 magazines have been added to the Image Library, with many thanks to the following contributors: The collection of Russian scans was donated by a Russian fan group, the British scans are courtesy Alvaro and the German scan comes from Anke. Thanks to all of you! Enjoy the new additions.

Image Library > Magazine Scans > 2009 > The Daily Mail Weekend (UK, September 2009)
Image Library > Magazine Scans > 2009 > Time Out London (UK, September 2009)
Image Library > Magazine Scans > 2009 > Magazine La Vanguardia (Spain, September 2009)
Image Library > Magazine Scans > 2009 > OK Magazine (Germany, September 2009)
Image Library > Magazine Scans > 2009 > Antenna Telesem (Russia, June 2009)
Image Library > Magazine Scans > 2009 > Ekho Planety (Russia, June 2009)
Image Library > Magazine Scans > 2009 > Imena Magazine (Russia, June 2009)
Image Library > Magazine Scans > 2009 > Star Hit Magazine (Russia, June 2009)
Image Library > Magazine Scans > 2009 > Kinopark Magazine (Russia, May 2009)
Image Library > Magazine Scans > 2009 > Krestjanka Magazine (Russia, May 2009)
Image Library > Magazine Scans > 2009 > Mini Russia Magazine (Russia, March 2009)
Image Library > Magazine Scans > 2009 > Profile Magazine (Russia, February 2009)

Better late than never, added pictures of Meryl attending the The Public Theater & Labyrinth Theater Company’s “Othello” Opening Night on September 20. 

The video archive has been modified for the new layout and has been made more functionable and easier on the eye. Also, two new clips from the 1990s have been added with many thanks to Bruno for finding them and letting me add them to the archives. First, a report from the British film programme “The Big Picture” on “She-Devil”. Then, a French report on Meryl leaving her handprints at the Mann’s Chinese Theatre in 1994.

The complete schedule for the International Rome Film Festival has been announced, and they will not only award Meryl with the Golden Marc’aurelio Acting Award, as previously reported, they will be also showing a retrospective of her past and present work, including “Plent”, “Out of Africa”, “A Cry in the Dark”, “Adaptation”, among others, and “Julie & Julia” as the festival’s closing film. Additionally, the documentary “I Knew It Was You: Remembering John Cazale” will be shown. A list of all screening dates can be found after the cut with many thanks to Illara for the heads-up!

With many thanks to Bruno for bringing this online, Meryl’s appearance on the French talkshow Vivement Dimanche (September 13) can be now watched in the video archive in two parts, captures have been added to the Image Library. Enjoy!